Boost forage production with maize after first cut grass

Last year’s tricky conditions highlighted how di cult it can be to ll forage clamps when the weather refuses to play ball. Some producers were forced into taking a last-gasp cut of grass silage as late as October and November to ll the gap left in clamps following the dry summer. Growers may therefore need to think outside the box to ensure they produce enough homegrown forage this year, especially in the current climate of elevated purchased feed prices.

“Maximising production from home-grown forage must remain a priority this year, as forage, whether grazed or conserved, remains the cheapest way to feed dairy cows,” comments LG Seeds UK maize manager Tim Richmond. “Farmers with good stocks of high-quality forage will not only be less reliant on bought-in feed, but will also be able to formulate coste ective rations to suit their herd’s exact requirements.”

He adds: “Not all grass leys are as productive as others, with most dairy farms having some poorer quality, worn-out swards which aren’t able to yield the required volume or quality of forage. Ideally these elds would be reseeded to rejuvenate the sward, but delaying reseeding until the autumn may put this year’s forage yields in jeopardy. For farms where maize is an option, and provided the eld is suitable, bringing maize drilling forward to the spring could yield signi cant bene ts.”

Variety selection is key Mr Richmond explains that it is silage being made and releasing more grassland for mid and late season grazing. Maize is also less expensive to grow than grass, as well as potentially saving on purchased fertiliser costs, as much of the nitrogen requirement can be supplied from slurry as opposed to bagged fertiliser.

Mr Richmond says that as long as maize is harvested in good time, there will still be time to establish a new grass ley ready for the following year. “Alternatively, in more marginal areas, a catch crop of forage rye or Westerwolds would be a good option with the land put back into grass or maize again the following spring.”

To ensure the success of maize drilled later in the spring, “You must choose an early variety with good early vigour and an FAO less than 170,” Mr Richmond advises. “Gema, Prospect, Trooper and Dignity would all t the bill and will reliably provide a yield which is comparable with later maturing varieties, with the added advantage of being ready to harvest sooner, thereby allowing a successor crop to be established.” whether the eld is suitable for maize, with those with compaction or waterlogging issues best avoided.” in a wide selection of possible to take either an early grazing or a slightly earlier rst cut of grass and still grow a successful maize crop. “Maize breeding programmes have resulted in a wide selection of ‘early’ and ‘ultra-early’ varieties such as Gema, Prospect, Dignity and Trooper which can reach maturity successfully in a shorter growing season and still produce a high yield of quality forage,” he says.

“These varieties can all be drilled successfully in early May, giving enough time for a decent early rst cut of grass to be taken beforehand. Alternatively, the eld can be grazed ahead of maize drilling, with this strategy potentially helping to protect the rest of the farm’s other grazing ground from poaching during the spring.”

If maize is drilled in May, it is essential that a suitable variety is selected, he explains. “Modern maize varieties can perform very well even if the growing season is shortened, but it is vital to make sure a suitable variety is drilled. Growers should also give careful consideration to

The bene ts of replacing a less productive grass sward for one season with maize include improved dry matter and energy yields, adding up to a signi cantly higher potential production from forage with even the most modest of maize crops providing an extra 14,000 litres per hectare compared to second and third cut grass silage.

With maize providing added security in terms of forage production, it may be feasible to reduce the quantity of third cut grass

In terms of establishment, Mr Richmond stresses that the seedbed should be prepared carefully with soil temperatures no lower than 8–10˚C at the time of drilling to ensure a rapid germination. As maize sown after grass can be at increased risk of wireworm and leatherjackets, a seed treatment such as Starcover Force should be used to help the crop develop as quickly as possible and grow away from the threat of damage.

“For farms where maize can be grown successfully, assessing the quality of grassland and replacing poorer quality swards with a crop of maize will boost overall forage productivity, o set the impact of higher feed prices and secure the best return from fertiliser,” Mr Richmond concludes. FG

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2022 saw a very much easier hay and straw harvest but we all know that no two years are the same, so what will 2023 bring? Baling hay and producing a mould-free and dust-free product is essential. The moisture sensor allows the operator